JARROD BOWEN is on fire this season for West Ham – and he must hope England boss Gareth Southgate appreciates that.
A wonderful hat-trick by red-hot Bowen on a chilly evening ensured the Hammers beat Brentford for the first time in the Premier League.
With 14 league goals this term, this is his best-ever scoring record across five seasons in the top flight.
A reminder that Bowen would bring plenty of energy, positivity and productivity to the England midfield set-up regardless of the illustrious competition he is up against.
And while he is expected to be called up for next month’s Three Lions squad to face Brazil and Belgium, the longer-term goal is going to the Euro 2024 finals.
It really did sting that he had to watch the 2022 Qatar World Cup finals from his sofa.
Whatever Southgate may think, Bowen, 27, is a superstar in the eyes of his boss David Moyes, who temporarily avoids the fans backlash he had in the previous two matches.
The Scotsman, 60, may have a new contract on the table but despite the Europa Conference League success, he has lost the support of the West Ham hardcore.
The banks and banks of empty seats told its own story as many voted with their feet.
Yet Moyes could not have hoped for a better beginning here, boosted by sloppy Brentford defending.
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After a tackle on Brentford’s Frank Onyeka in midfield went unpunished, Lucas Paqueta found James Ward-Prowse, who then found Emerson.
The ball by the Italian full-back was controlled by Bowen with his right foot and then smashed home with his left – it was a wonderful quick-fire combination.
Within the next two minutes, Dani Dyer’s other half doubled his tally as Brentford were punished for conceding possession.
Czech Vladimir Coufal supplied the delivery from the right and Bowen slotted home with an accomplished left-footed finish.
Bees forward Neal Maupay ensured West Ham would not celebrate a clean sheet when he pulled a goal back, latching on to an excellent through-ball by Keane Lewis-Potter.
Maupay is known for being a wind-up merchant and he was at it again, clashing with Hammers assistant coach Kevin Nolan before the start of the second half.
It was claimed on TV that Maupay had been outside the referee’s room and Nolan took exception to that.
At least Maupay offered more fight than teammate Ivan Toney, who might be on his way back into the professional game after his long betting ban, but was a peripheral figure.
Bowen, West Ham’s European hero, capped a superb evening on 63 minutes when he headed home a Kudus cross unmarked from six yards out.
Things got even better six minutes later when Emerson struck the ball beautifully with his left foot from distance – one of the club’s best goals the season.
Brentford, who cursed West Ham goalkeeper Alphonse Areola for his brilliant saves from Onyeka and Toney, scored late on through Yoane Wissa, which survived a VAR offside check.
But following a fifth defeat in six matches, they are firmly in the relegation mix, especially after Everton’s points reprieve.
Check out how the match unfolded through our live blog below…
